Our planet Earth is filled with breathtaking wonders. From the vast
oceans and mighty mountains to the babbling brooks and smallest grains
of sand, from the largest whales and swiftest birds to the tiniest
microbes and slowest slugs, the countless living and nonliving things
never cease to amaze us. In this special collection on The World of
Nature, we invite you to take a tour of many of these marvels and
discover some of their secrets.

The articles in this collection are
grouped according to topical categories, as seen in the box on the
right. If you click on any topic, you will see the corresponding set of
stories listed in chronological order, with the latest one placed first.

Some topics, such as Birds or
Mammals, contain articles about biological species or groups of species.
Other topics deal with more general themes. For instance, if you wish to
learn about ecosystems and keystone species that support them, go to
Ecological Specialties. If you are interested in geological
features--past and present--click on Geological Formations, Flows, and
History. For seasonal topics such as migration or hibernation, look
under Seasonal Features.

If you wish to explore phenomena in
the sky--such as cloud formation, auroras, or green flashes--click on
Skyscapes. For articles on drastic natural occurrences such as
thunderstorms, earthquakes, and volcanoes, look under Nature's Fury.
Stories on noteworthy and unusual subjects, such as camouflage in
nature, toxic birds, and carnivorous plants, are listed under Special
Topics. Some stories, of course, fit more than one category.

We hope you enjoy your tour--and, as
always, we welcome your comments.